Fallacies Quiz

Either-or fallacy

• When an argument suggests that there are ONLY 2 options or potential outcomes. Usually the intent is to lead the audience to believe that one of the outcomes is the obvious “correct” choice.

• Making a rushed conclusion without considering all of the factors or variables. Stereotypes are a particularly gross form of hasty generalization.

• Saying something must be true (or false) because there isn’t evidence to the contrary.

• If the main premise of the argument is that many people believe it or agree with it or do it so it must be true/good/acceptable, then it’s a bandwagon fallacy.

Hasty Generalization

• Making a rushed conclusion without considering all of the factors or variables. Stereotypes are a particularly gross form of hasty generalization.

• Saying something must be true (or false) because there isn’t evidence to the contrary.

• If the main premise of the argument is that many people believe it or agree with it or do it so it must be true/good/acceptable, then it’s a bandwagon fallacy.

• While it can build ethos to have a source of authority “endorse” your argument, it becomes a fallacy if the entire premise of the argument is that “a famous person believes it so it must be true,” or if your endorser doesn’t have anything to do with the topic of your argument.

Appeals to ignorance

• Saying something must be true (or false) because there isn’t evidence to the contrary.

• If the main premise of the argument is that many people believe it or agree with it or do it so it must be true/good/acceptable, then it’s a bandwagon fallacy.

• While it can build ethos to have a source of authority “endorse” your argument, it becomes a fallacy if the entire premise of the argument is that “a famous person believes it so it must be true,” or if your endorser doesn’t have anything to do with the topic of your argument.

• Attacking the person’s character or credentials instead of addressing the real argument they’re making.

Bandwagon Appeal

• If the main premise of the argument is that many people believe it or agree with it or do it so it must be true/good/acceptable, then it’s a bandwagon fallacy.

• While it can build ethos to have a source of authority “endorse” your argument, it becomes a fallacy if the entire premise of the argument is that “a famous person believes it so it must be true,” or if your endorser doesn’t have anything to do with the topic of your argument.

• Attacking the person’s character or credentials instead of addressing the real argument they’re making.

• This type of argument suggests that taking a minor action will lead to major and sometimes ridiculous consequences.

Authority Fallacy

• While it can build ethos to have a source of authority “endorse” your argument, it becomes a fallacy if the entire premise of the argument is that “a famous person believes it so it must be true,” or if your endorser doesn’t have anything to do with the topic of your argument.

• Attacking the person’s character or credentials instead of addressing the real argument they’re making.

• This type of argument suggests that taking a minor action will lead to major and sometimes ridiculous consequences.

• not “casuality.” Cause-ality.

  This is the assumption that because one event followed another, the first caused the second.

Ad Hominem

• Attacking the person’s character or credentials instead of addressing the real argument they’re making.

• This type of argument suggests that taking a minor action will lead to major and sometimes ridiculous consequences.

• not “casuality.” Cause-ality. This is the assumption that because one event followed another, the first caused the second.

• This fallacy is when an analogy is used to prove or disprove an argument, but the analogy is too dissimilar to be effective, that is, it is unlike the argument more than it is like the argument.

Slippery Slope

• This type of argument suggests that taking a minor action will lead to major and sometimes ridiculous consequences.

• not “casuality.” Cause-ality. This is the assumption that because one event followed another, the first caused the second.

• This fallacy is when an analogy is used to prove or disprove an argument, but the analogy is too dissimilar to be effective, that is, it is unlike the argument more than it is like the argument.

• When the appeal to pathos (pity, fear, pride, vanity) is the basis of the argument

False/Faulty Causality

• not “casuality.” Cause-ality. This is the assumption that because one event followed another, the first caused the second.

• This fallacy is when an analogy is used to prove or disprove an argument, but the analogy is too dissimilar to be effective, that is, it is unlike the argument more than it is like the argument.

• When the appeal to pathos (pity, fear, pride, vanity) is the basis of the argument

• If you are arguing something related to the topic, but avoiding the ACTUAL topic, you are making a straw man argument.

Weak Analogy

• This fallacy is when an analogy is used to prove or disprove an argument, but the analogy is too dissimilar to be effective, that is, it is unlike the argument more than it is like the argument.

• When the appeal to pathos (pity, fear, pride, vanity) is the basis of the argument

• If you are arguing something related to the topic, but avoiding the ACTUAL topic, you are making a straw man argument.

• • A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement. Note: rule out other fallacies first; if it fits none of them, then it's likely a non-sequitur.

Appeals to pity/ overly emotional appeals

• When the appeal to pathos (pity, fear, pride, vanity) is the basis of the argument

• If you are arguing something related to the topic, but avoiding the ACTUAL topic, you are making a straw man argument.

• • A conclusion or statement that does not
    logically follow from the previous
    argument or statement. Note: rule out other fallacies first; if it fits none of them, then it's likely a non-sequitur.